On August 15, we welcomed 145 members into the Mercer Law Class of 2019. The entering class consists of 48% women, 22% students of color, and 13 legacies. They came from 54 undergraduate institutions, represent 39 undergraduate majors, and an array of professional backgrounds varying from legal assistants to coaches to journalists. Our new students range in age from 20-49 with an average age of 25. Many of the students have philanthropic, and non-profit backgrounds that include the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, and the American Cancer Society. They have volunteered with mission trips, participated in Special Olympics, and been tutors and college mentors.
We also greeted our second-and third-year students who all bring their own fascinating summer experiences such as working with the Center for Disease Control, IRS, Grady Health Systems, Georgia Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of Georgia. We also had 23 students receive public interest stipends as they worked in non-profit and government law offices. All students spend the first week of the semester in dedicated “Intro Week” classes: Introduction to Law Study (1L); Introduction to Interviewing and Counseling (2L); and Introduction to Alternative Dispute Resolution (3L). Regular classes began August 22.
